OpenAI’s board of directors has unanimously rejected a $97.4 billion acquisition proposal from a consortium led by Elon Musk. Chairman Bret Taylor stated, “OpenAI is not for sale, and the board has unanimously rejected Mr. Musk’s latest attempt to disrupt his competition.” The board emphasized that any potential reorganization would strengthen their nonprofit mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but departed in 2018, has expressed concerns over the company’s shift towards a for-profit model. In response to the board’s decision, Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, accused OpenAI of prioritizing the enrichment of certain board members over the charity’s mission.
This development intensifies the ongoing dispute between Musk and OpenAI’s leadership, particularly CEO Sam Altman. Musk has previously criticized OpenAI for deviating from its original open-source and safety-focused objectives. In a recent exchange, Altman humorously dismissed Musk’s offer, suggesting a counterproposal to purchase Twitter for $9.74 billion, to which Musk retorted by calling Altman a “swindler.”
In light of Musk’s acquisition attempt, OpenAI is reportedly considering implementing special voting rights for its nonprofit board. This measure aims to protect against hostile takeovers and ensure that the board retains control over the organization, even as it transitions to a for-profit public benefit corporation.
